122 



[July, 



viparous fishes from California, reported in favor of publication in the 

 Proceedings. 



Description of Neiu Species of Viviparous JMarine and Fresh-water Fishes, 

 from the Bay of San Francisco, and from the Fiver and Lagoons of the Sacra- 

 mento.* By VV. P. Gibbons, M. D. 



In the first paper that I read before the Academy, descriptive of these fishes, 

 I placed them among the Labroids, on account of their corresponding in charac- 

 ters to this family, as established by Cuvier. Prof. Agassiz, however, in a letter 

 received from him, objects to this classification, because of the recent modifica- 

 tions which have been made in the characteristics of the Labroidae. This question 

 will be settled by a more intimate acquaintance with this extraordinary family, 

 which probably comprises a large number of species yet undiscovered. The 

 anomalous phases of animal and vegetable life in California, indicate the necessity 

 of patient and thorough investigation before coming to final conclusions respecting 

 the characters of new fishes. In my present descriptions, therefore, I place 

 these fishes provisionally in the 



Family LABROIDAE. 



Genus Holconotus. 



Head of medium size ; body subeomprf-ssed, arched ; lips thick. Snout pro- 

 tractile ; cheeks and opercula covered with scales, the latter with a thin mem- 

 brane round the edges. Teeth conical, few, in a single row in each jaw. 

 Branchiostegal rays five. Dorsal commences posterior to the pectorals ; lateral 

 line nearly concurrent. Spinous rays of the dorsal fold into a groove sufficiently 

 deep to conceal them. A narrow, naked space two scales below the base of 

 the middle and posterior portion of the dorsal ; the lengLh of this space not con- 

 stant in the same species, but present in all the viviparous genera. 



H. Agassizi, Gibbons. Curve of the dorsum and belly correspond ; a slight 

 indentation at the base of the head; jaws equal; dorsal with 9 to 11 spinous 

 rays, first one about a quarter inch long ; 2d, double or treble the length of the 

 1st; the others gradually lengthening to the 6th, which is .75 inches; the others 

 about of equal length ; soft portion at its commencement about double the height 

 of the spinous, regularly increasing to its termination, inch high. 1st ray of 

 the pectorals and ventrals spinous ; that of the former very short ; first 3 rays 

 of anal short and spinous. A space, free of scales, extending from the base of 

 the ventrals on each side to the base of the anal ; the scales lining the edge of 

 this space are folded ; in the unimpregnated state, the opposite edges of this 

 space meet. Ryes of medium size, irides varying in color with white, brown 

 and yellow; superior anterior edge of the pupil flattened; nostrils double; 

 cranium covered with mucous ducts as far down as the nostrils ; a diffused patch 

 of ducts between the nostrils and the angles of the mouth. 



Head transparent gray, dark brown or black ; back ash color, dark brown and 

 olive, with metallic tints; sides copper brown, lightening into beautiful iridescent 

 and flesh color or rose tints as they approach the ventrals. From 24 to 26 longi- 

 tudinal stripes of silver white or flesh tints below, and varying from this to yellow 

 or greenish-yellow as they ascend. Above the lateral line these stripes are nearly 

 concurrent with the dorsum, but below they are nearly straight and parallel. 

 Fins and tail irregularly marked with brown, black, olive or yellow. An ultra- 

 marine blue round the preopercle, under the orbit, and about the angle of the 

 mouth. 



Scales on the breast and along the base of the fins smaller than elsewhere. 

 Extreme length, 15 inches; width, 6 inches ; weight, 1 to 3 lbs. 



D. 35; P. 21; V. 6 ; A. 36; C. 20. 



Ii. Gibbonsii, Cal. Acad, of N. S Lips thicker ; body less arched than the 



* Read before the California Academy of Natural Sciences, Jan. 9th and May 

 15th, 22d, and 29th, 1854. 



